BHA move gives racing false image

Sep 6 2008 The Journal

IF trainers knew when a horse was going to win, many would quickly disappear from the ranks having made enough money to enjoy retirement.

The truth is they don’t. They might fancy one on the grounds that everything is in its favour and this ought to be the day, but they are also aware there are other rivals in the field that probably have the same stable confidence behind them.

Yet, the British Horseracing Authority are presently dealing with the issue of “inside information” and what a trainer should or shouldn’t divulge with regard to the wellbeing of their horses.

It amounts to trainers having to go back to school for a couple of hours or do a written examination at home. The BHA has insisted that trainers should know exactly where they stand on “inside information” by summoning them to seminars in various regions of the country.

If they can’t make it, they are obliged to fill in a computer-based training module. If they do neither, they have been warned they risk losing their licences. How stupid is that? There are so many grey areas surrounding information passed to others the BHA is wasting their time and resources on trying to control it.

Owners have every right to know from the trainer whether their horse is fancied to run a big race and if they want to tell friends then that’s their prerogative.

On the other side of the coin, if the horse is not expected to be in the shake-up, for whatever reason, owners are also entitled to be in possession of such information and can relay it to others if they do desire.

The trouble stems from the introduction of betting exchanges and the ability for punters to lay horses.

Consequently, when a horse with seemingly fair form claims drifts in the market everybody thinks it will not win. Apparently, the security department of the BHA think so, too. Have they not explored the possibility of a weak market being responsible for significant price fluctuations rather than someone taking advantage of privileged information?

Understandably, trainers feel the BHA action is provocative and gives a false impression of the sport’s image. Perhaps, it’s the betting public who should be educated on why horses are not machines and can run badly at times with no apparent excuse.

W should not forget punters have always been attracted to racing by the unpredictable performances of the equine population. I know only too well that tipping losers is a lot easier than tipping winners. The same applies when it comes to backing them.